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Unit 02
YDS or YÖKDİL: Which Should You Take?
differences, advantages and who should choose which
Side by Side
| YDS | YÖKDİL | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions / time | 80 / 180 minutes | 80 / 180 minutes |
| Content | General and academic texts for everyone | Texts from your field: Social, Health or Natural Sciences |
| Dialogue and situation questions | Yes | No |
| Language allowance | Accepted | Not accepted |
| Postgraduate study, academic posts, doçentlik | Accepted | Accepted |
| Computer-based version | e-YDS | e-YÖKDİL |
Choose YDS if…
- you are a public employee and want the language allowance (dil tazminatı);
- you need a score for several purposes and want one result that is accepted everywhere;
- you are comfortable with everyday English, dialogues and general topics.
Choose YÖKDİL if…
- you need the score only for postgraduate study, an academic post or doçentlik;
- you regularly read articles in your field — familiar vocabulary is a real advantage;
- dialogue and situation questions are your weak point.
Our Advice
If you are unsure, solve one practice exam of each type. Many candidates score a few points higher in YÖKDİL because the texts come from their own field. Practise with the field units in our YÖKDİL section and the full exams in the YDS section.
Rules and minimum scores can change and often differ between universities and institutions. Always check the latest official announcement (ÖSYM, YÖK, ÜAK or the institution's own call) before you apply.